Compare towns
Lebanon vs Auburn vs White River Junction vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Lebanon | Auburn | White River Junction | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
6,119 |
3,364Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
| Auburn and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Auburn and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lebanon and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
| Auburn and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Keene and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #29 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | — | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Auburn School District | — | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | — | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
— | — | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.